JUMBLEQUEEN

Jumblequeen is a blog dedicated to the unsung female musicians of the late 1960's to early 1970's. It will feature interviews from artists themselves as well as new artists whose work has been influenced by these exceptional women of yesteryear. All interview content is property of Jumblequeen. This is a small presentation of what will eventually be a book dedicated to these artists.

Sibylle Baier

German songwriter Sibylle Baier wrote and home recorded a batch of simple stunning folk songs from 1970-1973, plucked out on a nylon string guitar recalling the style and mood of Leonard Cohen. She appeared in the critically acclaimed Wim Wenders’ film ‘Alice in the Cities’ released in 1974. In 2006 her home recordings were passed on to Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis, who managed to get them released on the Orange Twin Label.

Legendary DJ John Peel discovered the lovely Bridget St. John, whom he declared “The best lady singer-songwriter in the country” and signed her to his imprint Dadelion Records in 1969. He released her debut LP Ask Me No Questions the same year which featured the acclaimed acoustic guitarist and songwriter John Martyn, whom she has cited as a mentor. St. John’s songwriting is poetic while remaining grounded, she is a fluid and intricate guitar player, her voice a husky sweet whisper. Her major label release in 1974 on Chrysalis Records would be her last for over 20 years, she is quoted as saying, “I think the problem with me and major labels is, they don’t know how to market me because I’m really not ‘product’, I’m me! I’m not about to change the way I look or talk just to suit a marketing plan. But at the same time, they don’t know how to market me and one company said, these songs are great but we don’t know what to do with you. They didn’t understand how to put some one like me in the big machine - and I think that’s probably why nothing happened.”(-excerpt from http://www.terrascope.co.uk)

Happy Birthday Moe Tucker!

Happy Birthday Moe Tucker!

“Ince Ince” sampled by Mos Def on the song “Supermagic” and hip hop rapper and producer Oh No on the song “Heavy”

Political activist, composer, exceptional guitarist and heart wrenching vocalist Selda Bagcan became a folk rock sensation after developing a following for her outspoken leftist political views and support of the working class in her homeland of Turkey. Her first singles released in 1971 sold nearly a million copies, a first for a woman from her region. On her 1976 debut LP she worked with the Anatolian psych group Mogollar and produced one of the most progressive and ground breaking albums of it’s time not only because of the bold political subject matter, but also because of it’s musical fusing of folk, psych, funk and traditional middle eastern sounds. A progressive style that has yielded sampling by current artists such as Mos Def.

In the 1980’s Selda’s continued outspokenness would land her in jail several times and her passport seized which would result in her missing the opportunity to play at the WOMAD festival headed by Peter Gabriel. Selda continues to play and release albums. She is slated to play London’s Meltdown Festival curated by Antony from Antony and the Johnsons in August 2012.

Brigitte Fontaine